MASSPIRG at UMASS-Boston

MASSPIRG GETS RESULTS!!!

Make sure you vote in the student government election:

http://site.www.umb.edu/election/index.php

_{MASSPIRG is a statewide, student funded, student directed nonprofit group that works on higher education, global warming, and hunger and homelessness issues.  We are able to work on these issues and get results because students at U Mass Boston have voted to have a chapter, and fund it with a $7 per student, per semester waiveable fee that appears on the tuition bill, which allows us to hire experts to work with us at the state and national level.  Every few years, the student body gets a chance to reaffirm support for MASSPIRG.}

^{Hunger and Homelessness - We are working at the national level to maintain and even expand projects like the Food Stamps Program and the Section 8 Housing Voucher Program, in the face of massive budget cuts from the Bush Administration.  We are working locally to fight poverty by organizing events like the Hunger Cleanup, where we will raise thousands of dollars, as well as provide dozens of hours of community service for Horizons for Homeless Children, as well as national and international poverty efforts.}

^{Stopping Global Warming - Thanks to all the work of MASSPIRG students and staff across the state, we are on the verge of passing historic global warming legislation.  Because of all the work we have done here at U Mass Boston this past year, including getting petitions signed to our state senator, holding our “Global Warming Superhero” photo shoot, and actually meeting with our state Senator, we were able to get the Global Warming Solutions Act passed through the Senate.  In the next couple weeks we will hold our “It’s So Easy!” bike event, and we will join hundreds of other students at Mass Power Shift, to make sure this bill passes by earth day!}

^{Making College More Affordable - This fall MASSPIRG students and staff, along with students all over the country, had a huge victory when Congress passed the College Cost Reduction and Access Act.  This will cut student loan interest rates, and more than double the Pell Grant, so more people can afford to go to college!}

^{Make Textbooks Affordable - Textbook prices are skyrocketing, and the publishing industry has lots of schemes to artificially increase costs for students.  MASSPIRG made major progress in lowering these costs this year, when we had over 50 students turn out for a press conference and public hearing at the statehouse, which helped us pass our affordable textbooks bill out of the Higher Education Committee.  Now, we are working to make sure professors know about all the low cost alternatives out there!}

_{MASSPIRG Supporters:}

• _{Ahmed Abou El-Dahab, President of Change a Life}
• _{Alex Kulenovic, Student Trustee}
• _{Darby Ruggeri, Coordinator for Queer Student Center}
• _{Diderot Jean Phillippe, Student Senator and President of Hip Hop Initiative}
• _{Fahid Naseer, Student Senator}
• _{Ileana Adamez, President of Keep a Child Alive, One}
• _{Jessica Mesick, Coordinator for Student Wellness Center}
• _{Juana Matias, Student Body President}
• _{Kathleen Nichols, President of Students in Business}
• _{Loc Tran, Coordinator for Asian Center}
• _{Maureen Hardiman, Coordinator for Women’s Center}
• _{Michael Alli, Student Senator}
• _{Michael Wood, President of Psychology Club}
• _{Muhammad Shahab, President of Pakistani Student Association}
• _{Tania Lamour, President of Haitian American Society}
• _{Terral Ainooson, Coordinator for Casa Latina}
• _{Victor Udom, President of African Student Union}
• _{Dr. Steven Rudnick, Director of Environmental Studies}
• _{Dr. Ninian Stein, Environmental Studies}
• _{Francesco Peri, Environmental, Earth, and Oceanic Sciences}
• _{Dr. Primo Vahnicelli, Political Science}
• _{Dr. Ursula Tafe, Political Science}
• _{Dr. Elizabeth Bussiere, Political Science}

Go here to vote online today:

http://site.www.umb.edu/election/index.php

 For more information, or to get involved, contact Megan:
megand@masspirgstudents.org
617-287-3866
Stop by our office on the second floor of the campus center, 2300-3